United or Divided: Making meaning of the election. Part II

“Peace, justice, love, and freedom are not private realities; they are not only internal attitudes. They are social realities, implying a historical liberation”

(Gutierrez, 1988, p. 167)

Continuing our personal and professional reflections on the election.

Dr. Uma P. Dorn ~ [Asian Indian American]

Exactly two weeks ago, as I watched the election results unfold, all I could do was turn it off and go to sleep. I woke up in the middle of the night, anxiety ridden and fought to hide in the solace of sleep. I woke the next morning to my 9-year-old daughter’s messages:

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“No, no, no…” she says…as my sadness and hopelessness deepened, I spent my day grieving. Grief for women, people of color, the LGBT community, Muslims, immigrants, refugees, and other minortized communities…grief for my biracial daughters and sons.

I tried to hide in the grief for the first few days and felt immoblized as the partners at ISP reflected on our stance and worked to understand how we wanted to find our voice amidst the grief. I realized soon, that we have to do something and that it required more engagement from us not less. We did not want to be silenced, but emboldened.

As I began to process and understand this new reality, I was reminded of my trauma work with clients, that we have to make meaning of the trauma, we have to understand the purpose before we can thrive. I am working hard to understand the meaning in this election…one thing that is clear is that I am not alone. There are others fighting for the human rights of others! We have to fight to have a girl president one day for my daughters (and sons)!

As I have reflected on all that has happened in the past couple of weeks, I have had to reconnect and make new meaning of who I am as an Asian Indian American, as an immigrant, as a woman, as a person of color, as mother of biracial (brown) children, a partner to a white man…sometimes from a place of fear and anger, sometimes from knowing that I am supported, and finally from a place of connection…knowing that this is what must bring my personal and professional work together.

This nation, even prior to the election results speaks to systemic issues and we need to come together in solidarity for systemic change. As time passes post-election, I know the meaning…the purpose…will become ever clear and we as America united for ALL of our people will thrive!